Chapter 324: Unexpected Conflict

Since they were all under ‘Deon Hart’, the Lofty Knights calmed themselves and asked the 0th Legion to step aside. The 0th Legion refused.

The amicable talk ended there. The Lofty Knights, their patience worn thin, immediately bared their fangs.

“Step aside.”

Their usual lightheartedness vanished, replaced by a fierce intensity, as if they were about to pounce. Despite the impression that they resembled snarling beasts, the 0th Legion members didn’t even flinch.

They simply stood their ground, hands on their weapons, and stated in a businesslike tone.

“Sir Deon’s orders. Stop even allies from crossing beyond this point.”

Occasional magic attacks flew in, but the 11th Corps intercepted them. Legions rushing towards their position were also being blocked by legions loyal to Deon Hart.

Amidst the chaos, the 0th Legion members watched the Lofty Knights, who remained safe in the eye of the storm, and silently clenched their fists.

“Even if you are favored by Sir Deon, our orders remain unchanged. No exceptions.”

They wouldn’t even let legion commanders pass, so why would they make exceptions for the humans before them?

He glanced around subtly. It seemed the 0th Legion’s existence was long forgotten, as everyone’s attention was completely focused on the Lofty Knights. For some reason, the 0th Legion member found their situation comical and chuckled, out of place.

‘Well, it’s understandable.’

The Lofty Knights were the only ones Deon Hart had ever shown affection for. Lady Lirinel’s memory was surprisingly sharp to even remember them and order the 0th Legion to protect their lives.

…We know we are not favored by Sir Deon like those humans. We know better than anyone that the 0th Legion is beneath his notice.

However. Even so.

‘We belong to Deon Hart.’

No matter what anyone said or did to provoke them, no matter how blatantly the situation revolved around the Lofty Knights, the 0th Legion’s role, status, and mission remained unchanged. There was no reason to feel newly sentimental about a fact they already knew.

“So stop your whining and get lost.”

We just need to follow Sir Deon like shadows.

He brought us here because he needed us, and he gave us orders because he needed to. Therefore, it’s only natural to be faithful to those orders.

“You’re talking nonsense! What does that have to do with the current situation? I said step aside!”

“If you come any closer, we will use force to suppress you.”

“…Damn it!”

Fighting here would waste precious time and energy.

Why were they in this situation when they were clearly allies of Deon Hart? Milan grit his teeth.

“Move! We can fight later as much as you want!”

“We are merely following Sir Deon’s orders.”

“Damn it, we’re going to relieve Sir Deon of his fatigue, so why are you blocking us and causing trouble? If our captain gets into danger, will you take responsibility?!”

“You lack faith in your superior.”

“You guys are deifying the captain too much!”

Is the Hero some kind of all-powerful being? Our captain is just human after all.

He drew his weapon. Seeing his intent, his comrades also drew theirs. Milan glared at their unyielding opponents and spat out.

“…In this case, we’ll have to force our way through.”

“Do you think we’ll allow that?”

“We’ll make you step aside, you bastard!”

Clang! A clash of arms finally erupted.

Those belonging to Deon’s side paused at the fight between two groups of Deon Hart’s forces. Lirinel, seemingly unable to process the situation, stammered while reflexively casting temporary barriers to block attacks flying towards both sides.

“Uh… Why are the 0th Legion and the Lofty Knights…”

They should be working together, why are they fighting each other?!

Not only must she protect the Lofty Knights, whom Sir Deon cherished, but also the 0th Legion, who also belonged to Sir Deon, from dying. But, if the two groups she had to protect were attacking each other, what was she supposed to do?!

The legion members looked at her as if expecting an answer. Despite wanting to tear her hair out in confusion, Lirinel dutifully issued an order.

“F-First… for now… exclude attacks directed at each other from the two legions and only block other attacks.”

Leave the conflict between the two to run its course, and focus on protecting both from other legions.

Not a bad judgment. Other legion commanders on Deon’s side, who were also frozen in bewilderment, hastily issued the same orders.

Contrary to concerns, the clash between the 0th Legion and the Lofty Knights ended sooner than expected.

“I’m going through!”

“Us too!”

“…Damn it!”

From the start, it wasn’t a fight to the death, but a clash between those trying to pass and those trying to block. If the path was narrow, it might have been different, but in an open space with no real bottleneck, stopping those trying to pass was impossible.

If the opponents were others, they might have been able to hold them back and buy time, but damn it, the Lofty Knights actively utilized their signature disorganized behavior and numbers, based on their perfectly synchronized teamwork.

‘They said they’d make us step aside.’

Who would have thought they meant this method?

One side creates a commotion to draw attention, while the other side finds a gap and slips through. When you realize and turn to that side, the side that was causing a commotion leisurely passes through.

It was truly a peaceful yet infuriating method.

‘…Should I chase them?’

The 0th Legion member, currently in temporary command, stopped in his tracks, having considered chasing them. He also called back his comrades who were moving to pursue.

There were still others trying to pass through here. To those who looked at him, questioning why they weren’t going after them, he gestured with his chin towards the tangled mass of other legions.

Those who saw the hostile legions clearly intending to chase after the Lofty Knights nodded in understanding. An order, combined with an explanation, followed.

“First, fortunately, the Lofty Knights we missed are allies. Aside from failing our mission, they won’t be in great danger to him. The problem is the other legions trying to pursue them.”

“…”

“We can’t repeat the same mistake, can we?”

Letting allies in and letting enemies in are completely different. Even if they are enemies, we must block them properly, so we’ll be less ashamed later.

He stopped the other legion members trying to follow the Lofty Knights, treating them as if they were nonexistent, and said quietly.

“Let’s block the enemies properly at least.”

As if that word was a signal, the 0th Legion members simultaneously raised their energy. They watched the movements of the hostile legions with sharp eyes, and when they tried to cross the designated line, they immediately attacked. Based on the invisible line, the legions were held in place.

A shout was heard from someone in the frustrating situation.

“What are you doing? Break through quickly!”

The hostile legion attacked as if to push or pull out the 0th Legion, who were firmly standing their ground and fighting. Deon’s side legions blocked the more threatening attacks and crossed the line to protect the Lofty Knights who had gone inside. It was ridiculous to block other allies when they had already let one group through, and the situation was already overwhelming just blocking the hostile forces, so thanks to the 0th Legion’s bold move, there were no unnecessary clashes.

Moreover, they couldn’t be ungrateful and block those who were protecting them.

“Ah…”

Nevertheless, enduring the attacks of multiple legions seemed to be too much, and eventually, one side was breached.

As if they had been waiting, the enemies surged in. From the start, it was absurd for one legion to hold out against multiple legions, but… still.

‘I thought we could at least buy some time since they were fighting each other.’

While attacking to break through the 0th Legion, the Demon King’s side and the Third Faction side were attacking each other. Yet, they couldn’t even buy time properly.

A sigh of despair leaked out as he felt his own incompetence… but… an even more despairing situation unfolded.

“…Haha.”

In addition to the 5th Corps, which had gone ahead to protect the Lofty Knights, even the 11th Corps, seemingly worried about the Lofty Knights as enemies broke through, headed inside. It was a legion that had reliably protected them from a middle position, watching both the direction the knights were going and their own position.

The remaining allies were only the 1st Corps and the 9th Corps. They were good at overpowering opponents with force, but not skilled at defense. Moreover, in this numerically inferior situation, they wouldn’t try to protect the 0th Legion.

We are going to die. A laugh escaped him, one he didn’t understand himself.

“Still, we should take out at least one hostile legion before we die, so we’ll be less resentful, right?”

That way, the 0th Legion’s face will be somewhat saved.

We will never die alone. Firmly establishing the last bit of pride left after compromising with reality, the 0th Legion members tightened their grip on their weapons.

***

To defend, it would be easier if the target stayed in one place, but Deon’s side legions did not block or interfere with the Lofty Knights’ path. Knowing this fact well, the knight order members simply blocked the incoming attacks and willingly shouted their thanks to those who were protecting them.

‘I don’t know how far they intend to protect us… but for now, I’m grateful!’

Exactly how far to escort them was a matter of concern for both Lirinel and Derniban.

The hostile legions chasing them were the 2nd Corps and the 4th Corps. Like the clever bastards they were, they knew that the Lofty Knights were a pawn that could seize and shake Deon Hart’s mind, so they were not easily giving up.

‘If we guide them to Sir Deon… no, no. There are Heroes swarming there, it might actually be a hindrance.’

If they went all the way there and these guys became a liability, it would be obstructive. It might even break Sir Deon’s composure in reverse. Lirinel, flying through the sky and watching over the knight order with anxious eyes, shook her head.

How long had they traveled like that? At the end of their movement, the moment they crossed an invisible, specific territory.

Whump-.

“?!!”

Along with a strange pressure, her body, which had been floating in the air, helplessly began to fall.

“Huh…? Huh??”

She frantically tried to float her body again, but magic wouldn’t work. Lirinel knew this sensation.

‘Magic suppression array!’

Besides that, other arrays also seemed to be installed, as the pressure on her body was unusual. Even the legion members who had come to receive their superior collapsed under the pressure, and Lirinel, who fell as if crushing them, immediately flung herself out of the array’s range.

After barely regaining composure, she noticed other guys who had recklessly stepped into the array’s range were recoiling in horror.

‘It was definitely a sensation I never want to experience again.’

Lirinel, having floated her body again with returned magic, looked back at the Lofty Knights.

Whether it was a beastly instinct, the guys who had stopped right before the array’s range were staring blankly as if asking what was wrong. Amidst her bewilderment, she reminded herself that this wasn’t the time for that and opened her mouth.

“…It seems like our escort duty should end here.”

“Since other legions don’t seem to intend to cross here either, you guys can handle the rest on your own, right?”

Derniban also turned around, seemingly not intending to step into the array again.

Far away, legions that seemed to be getting closer while fighting, whether to join them or simply pushed back by numerical inferiority, were visible. Judging from this sight, it seemed like another additional battlefield would be here.

Lirinel said to the Lofty Knights as if giving a final warning.

“You guys are the type to cause bigger trouble if you’re suppressed, so I helped you for now, but don’t you dare die in front of Sir Deon. If you hurt Sir Deon, I won’t let it slide.”

“…Thank you!”

What returned was not affirmation, but a thank you.

Lirinel frowned slightly and tried to say something more, but the Lofty Knights stepped into the array’s range as if not giving her time to speak further.